Electrical switches with actuating and locating parts movable independently or concurrently

ABSTRACT

In an electrical switch an operating member is coupled to an operating lever and is movable by the operating lever from an inoperative position to at least one operative position in which a circuit between a pair of terminals on the switch is completed. The operating lever is also movable in a different plane against the action of resilient means, from an inoperative position to a position it causes the same circuit to be completed. This is accomplished by using an operating member in two parts, one of which carries the switch contacts and the other of which locates relative to the switch housing, so that the part of the contact member carrying the contacts can be moved independently of the other part.

Inventor J n Gnanville Baldwin Burn England Appl. No. 881,940 Filed Dec. 3, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited Birmingham, England Priority Dec. 6, 1968 Great Britain 58157/68 ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WITH ACTUATING AND LOCATING PARTS MOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY OR CONCURRENTLY [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,807 4/1955 Hollius 200/4 X 3,243,528 3/1966 Brady 200/4 3,431,373 3/1969 Fugua ZOO/61.34 3,511,943 5/1970 Kibler 200/4 Primary ExaminerH. 0. Jones Assistant ExaminerRobert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Holman and Stern ABSTRACT: In an electrical switch an operating member is coupled to an operating lever and is movable by the operating lever from an inoperative position to at least one operative position in which a circuit between a pair of terminals on the switch is completed. The operating lever is also movable in a different plane against the action of resilient means, from an inoperative position to a position it causes the same circuit to be completed. This is accomplished by using an operating member in two parts, one of which carries the switch contacts and the other of which locates relative to the switch housing, so that the part of the contact member carrying the contacts can be moved independently of the other part.

PATENTEDnm 12 Ian SHEET 1 BF 2 I FIGI.

PATENTEDUCT 121911 [3,612,785

if? i ELECTRICAL SWITCHES WITII ACTUATING AND LOCATING PARTS MOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY OR CONCURRENTLY operating lever from an inoperative position to at least one operative position in which a circuit between a pair of terminals on the switch is completed, the operating lever being movable additionally in a different plane, against the action of resilient means, from an inoperative position to a position in which it causes said circuit between the pair of terminals to be completed.

One example of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is an inverted plan view of an electrical switch with the base removed,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the parts of the switch in an operative position other than that shown in FIG. 1 and,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the switch includes a molded insulating body 11 one side of which is open to define a compartment 12, and on the other side of which is formed an integral bearing 13. Within the compartment 12 is a molded contact member 14 having a central portion 15 in which is formed a rectangular slot, first and second arms 16,17 extending outwardly from the central portion 15 towards the outer walls of the compartment 12, the arm 16 carrying at its end a first set of resilient contacts 18, an integral bearing bush 15a extending from the central portion 15 and engaging the bearing 13, and a pair of arcuate flanges 20 extending from the central portion 15 in the opposite direction to the bearing bush and engaging arcuate portions of the body to provide a second bearing for the contact member 14. Each of the arms 16,17 carries a spring-loaded ball engaging a respective cam form on the wall of the body 11 so that the contact member 14 is angularly movable from a central inoperative position in opposite angular directions to first and second operative positions.

The switch further includes an operating lever 19 secured to a rectangular insulating block 21 located within a diametrically extending slot in the bearing bush 15a by a pin 22 extending through the bush 15a and block 21. Extending integrally from the block 21 is a hollow post 23, which is located within the rectangular slot in the contact member and within which is trapped a compression spring 24. The post is engaged within a central hole 26 formed in a second contact member which includes a relatively short arm terminating in a lug which is pivotally engaged within a hole formed intermediate the ends of the arm 16 of the member 14, and a longer arm which at its end carries a second set of resilient contacts 27, and intermediate its ends is formed on its face engaging the second arm of the first contact member with a groove 28 containing a compression spring 29 acting between one closed end of the groove 28 and a post 31 upstanding from the arm 17 of the member 14 so as to urge the second contact member 25 into engagement with an end of one of the arcuate flanges The compartment 12 is closed by a base 32 which conveniently is in the form of a printed circuit board secured to the body, and the arrangement is such that when the board is in position it is engaged by the first and second sets of contacts 18, 27. Moreover, the spring 24 trapped within the post 23 urges a ball 24a into a hole 33 in the printed circuit board 32 and together with the spring 29 in the groove 28 urges the rectangular block 21 angularly about the pin 22 to a position in which the block 21 engages a part of the body 11.

Assuming that the switch is to be used to control windscreen wipers in a road vehicle, then in use when the contact member 14 is in its central position, no circuit is completed through the printed circuit 32, and the wiper motor, which is of the selfparking type is inoperative. Assuming for the sake of convenience that the switch is mounted with the printed circuit board 32 vertical, then clockwise movement of the operating lever 19 from its central position acts through the rectangular block 21 and the bearing bush 15a to move the first contact member 14 angularly to its first operative position. The second contact member 25 is maintained in engagement with the arcuate flange 20 and so moves angularly with the contact member 14 and can be regarded as part thereof. The angular movement of the sets of contacts 18, 27 over the printed circuit board 32 completes a circuit to operate the wiper motor at a predetermined speed, and the motor continues to operate until the switch is returned to the inoperative position. Anticlockwise movement of the operating lever 19 from its central position again moves both contact members 14, 25 angularly to operate the wiper motor at a different speed, or if desired to bring into operation means for operating the wiper motor with a delay between wipes.

If at any time the driver wishes to operate the wipers for a single cycle, he moves the operating lever 19 horizontal (still assuming the contact board 32 to be vertical) away from the contact board 32. The block 21 now moves angularly within the diametrical slot about the pin 22 and the resultant movement of the post 23 moves the ball 24a out of the hole 33 and moves the contact member 25 angularly relative to the contact member 14 about the pivot defined by said lug, this angular movement compressing the spring 29, in the groove 28. The angular movement of the contacts 27 completes the same circuit as when the operating lever 19 is moved clockwise to operate the wiper motor at the predetermined speed. As soon as the wiper moves, the driver can release the operating lever 19, whereupon the spring 29, assisted by the spring-loaded ball 240, return the contact member 25 and operating lever 19 to their normal positions, the circuit to the motor being maintained through the self-parking switch of the motor until the end of the single wiping stroke. The angular movement of the rectangular block 21 is permitted by virtue of a slot 34 in the bearing 13 when the operating lever 19 and member 14 are in their central inoperative position, but is prevented in other angular positions of the member 14, by engagement of the block 21 with the bearing 13 so that the single wipe facility can be employed only when the wiper motor is off. The switch can if desired control other functions. For example an additional angular position of the switch could control windscreen washers, this position being allowed.

The switch of course has other uses, and it may not always be necessary to restrict the permitted horizontal movement of the operating lever to a single angular position as in the example described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical switch including a casing, an operating member movable angularly within the casing, an operating lever, means coupling the operating lever to the operating member so that movement of the operating lever in a first plane moves the operating member from an inoperative position to at least one operative position, a pair of terminals on the switch, between which an electrical circuit is completed in said operative position, the operating lever being movable additionally in a second plane, from an inoperative position to a position in which it causes said circuit between said pair of terminals to be completed, resilient means resisting said movement of the operating lever in said second plane, and, the operating member comprises a first part which moves angularly with the operating lever when the operating member is moved in said first plane, a second part movable with said first part during movement of the operating lever in said first plane, and so coupled to the operating lever that movement of the operating lever in said second plane moves said second part relative to said first part, said second part carrying the switch contact completing said circuit, and the switch being provided with coacting parts on the first part of the operating member and the casing respectively, said coacting parts serving to define the stable position of the switch. 

1. An electrical switch including a casing, an operating member movable angularly within the casing, an operating lever, means coupling the operating lever to the operating member so that movement of the operating lever in a first plane moves the operating member from an inoperative position to at least one operative position, a pair of terminals on the switch, between which an electrical circuit is completed in said operative position, the operating lever being movable additionally in a second plane, from an inoperative position to a position in which it causes said circuit between said pair of terminals to be completed, resilient means resisting said movement of the operating lever in said second plane, and, the operating member comprises a first part which moves angularly with the operating lever when the operating member is moved in said first plane, a second part movable with said first part during movement of the operating lever in said first plane, and so coupled to the operating lever that movement of the operating lever in said second plane moves said second part relative to said first part, said second part carrying the switch contact completing said circuit, and the switch being provided with coacting parts on the first part of the operating member and the casing respectively, said coacting parts serving to define the stable position of the switch. 